Roberts is now the third Patriots linebacker to depart this offseason after Van Noy and Jamie Collins, leaving their depth chart with only Dont'a Hightower and Ja'Whaun Bentley as the true linebackers, while Chase Winovich and John Simon are options on the edge who might be better suited as defensive ends. Though Roberts wasn't a full time defender (20 percent of snaps in 2019), he packed a punch and had a run-stopping presence like few inside linebackers of recent memory before him.

His departure only reinforces that linebacker will be one of the biggest needs to address in the coming days of free agency and the draft.